The sessions and luncheon of the second day of the 4th International Conference on Religious Freedom presented by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of America, Canada, Australia, and Europe were held at the iconic Zappeion Megaron in Athens on May 28. U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo was the keynote speaker of the afternoon session.
The morning gathering ended with a special official vote of the assembled Archons on a motion of condemnation requested by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America regarding recent violations of the religious freedom of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Authorities in Pristina recently barred Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia and seven accompanying bishops from entering Kosovo and Metohija to attend a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the Patriarchate of Peć.
After the Archbishop expressed “the deep concern of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew” the Archons passed the motion unanimously.
The theme of the morning session was ‘How is Freedom of Religion or Belief Related to Current Global Trends and Humanitarian Need’ and the Convener was Constantine Sideridis, Archon Proto Notarios. Dr. Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was the Keynote Speaker, and Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Boston College, Professor, International Studies Program; The Atlantic Council, Eurasia Center Non-Resident Senior Fellow was the moderator.
Dr. Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis spoke about the issues handled by and the functioning of the Parliamentary Assembly and touched upon the history and purpose of the Council of Europe.
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Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: United States Department of State
